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During the week ending June 18, U.S. railroads returned to traffic-building mode. The roads boosted carloads 0.9 percent to 333,264 units and increased intermodal loads 2.4 percent compared with the same 2004 week, according to Association of American Railroads data.

During 2005’s first 24 weeks, the roads moved 8,015,993 carloads, up 1.7 percent, and 5,205,646 trailers and containers, up 6.3 percent compared with last year. Total estimated volume of 761.2 billion ton-miles rose 2.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads continued their month-long traffic slump. During the week ending June 18, the roads’ carloads totaling 75,817 units dropped 1.8 percent and intermodal loads totaling 42,403 units decreased 0.7 percent compared with the same 2004 week.

Through 24 weeks, Canadian roads moved 1,840,250 carloads — up less than one-tenth of one percent — and 1,013,778 trailers and containers, up 2.5 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 24 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian roads boosted carloads 1.4 percent to 9,856,243 units and increased intermodal loads 5.6 percent to 6,219,424 units compared with last year.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V. rebounded in the carload department. The road’s 8,848 carloads during week No. 24 rose 6.1 percent compared with the same 2004 week. However, TFM’s weekly intermodal volume of 3,781 units dropped 2.4 percent. Through 24 weeks, TFM moved 207,669 carloads, up 1.4 percent, and 92,849 trailers and containers, up 8.0 percent compared with last year.